Endau-Rompin Landscape, Malaysia

This lowland rainforest is one of three main landscapes in Peninsular Malaysia for Asian elephants and tigers. Covering an area of more than 1,370 square miles, the Endau-Rompin Landscape is home to the second largest national park in the Peninsula: Endau Rompin National Park, located in the states of Johor and Pahang. Partly hilly with some prominent sandstone plateaus, the landscape is a watershed of several rivers. The park and surrounding region are believed to be capable of sheltering at least 60 to 70 Malayan tigers.

Fast Facts

Endau-Rompin National Park contains rock formations dating back some 240 million years and is thought to be the world’s oldest tropical rainforest complex.

The Endau-Rompin Landscape is home to the Orang Asli of the indigenous Jakun tribe.

Challenges

Human-wildlife conflicts complicate the conservation of tigers, elephants, and other regional wildlife. Unsustainable hunting is another major threat to Endau-Rompin’s wild animals.

WCS Responds

WCS is working with the Johor National Parks Corporation (JNPC), Johor Forest Department, Johor Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Royal Malaysian Police, and Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad in the Endau-Rompin Landscape to help balance development and conservation interests and to protect the region’s tigers, elephants, and other threatened species. The Panthera-WCS joint Tigers Forever initiative produced the first statewide distribution map for several tiger prey species, including sambar deer and bearded pigs. In 2009, WCS and its partners launched a training program as part of the Johor Wildlife Conservation Project, to help improve law enforcement and protection measures. We are also training government staff in elephant surveys, wildlife monitoring, and management methods.